Merino's Double Ignites Spain's Scoring Run in Commanding Victory Over Bulgaria

Everything began in Scotland and the momentum continues. That memorable evening at Hampden marked only Luis de la Fuente's second outing as Spain's head coach; many believed it could turn out to be his last assignment. Despite a pair of Scott McTominay goals overcoming the Spanish national team, whereas almost all spectators expected his tenure would be brief, De la Fuente spoke about a route emerging - and interestingly, the manager previously criticized of living in Disneyland turned out right.

36 months and four days, Spain moved to within touching distance of global football participation, while simultaneously racking up their twenty-ninth straight competitive game without defeat, equaling the historic record.

Midfield Masterclass and Decisive Contribution

On a night when the Barcelona midfielder featured and Mikel Merino made the decisive impact, Spain overcame Bulgaria 4-0 to accumulate a perfect dozen from 12 in qualifying, nearing advancement. The Gunners' playmaker and sometime striker scored the first two goals and might have secured his second three-goal haul in three recent Spain matches but when fouled in the closing minute, he selflessly passed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Thus it was the Real Sociedad attacker, goal-getter of the decisive goal in the European Championship final, who continued the remarkable sequence, matching what Vicente del Bosque's legendary squad achieved between 2010 and 2013.

Historic Achievement

Now, you might have noticed the symbol, and correctly so. While FIFA might not count it as a defeat, during this impressive run Spain did suffer defeat once – seven-five on penalties to Portugal in the continental tournament decider back in June. However formally at least, this current team has equaled that legendary squad against which all Spanish national teams are measured.

Win in Georgia in thirty days and the achievement will be exclusively theirs. Along the way they captured the Nations League in 2023, the European Championships in 2024 and advanced to a Nations League final in 2025; they approach 2026 sitting No. 1, among the favorites once more, reminiscent of old times.

Complete Domination

The match represented "only" versus Bulgaria, it is true, similar to previous encounters against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four victories from four, aggregate score fifteen-zero. There were two moments immediately after the Spanish team obtained their first two goals – the third strike being an own goal – but eventually their opponents had not been allowed a solitary shot on target.

Overall count showed: thirty-three to three, Spain clearly playing as Spain. Bulgaria's coach had confessed the sole objective his team could have was to resist as long as possible. As it turned out, that defensive effort lasted thirty-three minutes, and Merino's header represented Spain's 18th attempt on target by that point.

Midfield Brilliance

This performance was about the entire team, but at the core of it was Pedri, ubiquitous and elusive simultaneously: present for Spain, absent for Bulgaria, incapable to track him as he darted through their defense. He executed one hundred and one passes by the time he was substituted to a rapturous applause on the sixty-sixth minute, and his were the instances of greatest subtlety, the finest touches and the most incisive too.

When the Valladolid stadium sang his name during the first half, he had just drifted unmarked into the area once more, dinking his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the crossbar, but it was not just that. He had previously lifted a gorgeous pass into Álex Baena to strike wide and pulled another pass from which Baena was blocked.

Sustained Attack

A disguised pass had created opportunity for Samu Aghehowa up for what should have been the first goal, and a precise pass saw Oyarzabal scuff his shot. He received a chance of his own only to be unable to find a proper connection, volleying wide.

But then, almost immediately after, he delivered another ball in. This time Robin Le Normand nodded across and Merino headed in. Spain, who had eighty-eight percent of the possession, now had the lead. The heat map looked like they had exhausted supply of marking paint midway through and a moment later Aghehowa might have made it two-nil.

Momentary Threat

But then in part it's the unpredictability, even the injustice, that makes football special. And the first time Bulgaria advanced into Spain's territory they could have leveled the score, Kiril Despodov abruptly breaking away and striking the outside of the net.

Introduced for Aghehowa at the half-time, Borja Iglesias had multiple opportunities in as many minutes before Merino scored again. The delivery from the left flank was superb from Álex Grimaldo and there, leaping above everyone, was Merino to power the header downward and dash off to celebrate round the corner flag.

Closing Stages

As they had after the opener, Bulgaria survived again, Despodov played through and putting his and their second shot wide and yet the first time the away team had a shot on target it was at the wrong end, Atanas Chernev turning into his own net. Still it was not quite finished, Merino kicked in the legs and allowing to let Oyarzabal blast in the ninety-ninth goal of De la Fuente's ongoing reign.